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Useful Contacts
Local Authority Caterers Association
LACA is the professional body representing 1,000 catering managers and suppliers who provide catering services to all sectors of Local Authorities in England, Wales and Scotland. Local authority caterers are responsible for providing: school meals, civic and social services catering.
www.laca.co.uk
School Food Trust
The School Food Trust's remit is to transform school food and food skills, promote the education and health of children and young people and improve the quality of food in schools.
www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/index.asp -
Other links of interest
Academy of Culinary Arts
Professional association for head chefs, pastry chefs, restaurant managers and quality suppliers. Concerned with raising standards and public awareness of food, food provenance, cooking and service, as well as helping to attract young people into the industry through education and training programmes.
www.academyofculinaryarts.org.ukAssociation of Catering Excellence
Previously known as the European Catering Association, this organisation encourages caterers and associates from all sectors of the food service industry to network, exchange ideas, socialise and keep in touch. Members include managers, chefs, accountants, consultants, students and suppliers.
www.acegb.org/ -
Association of Pastry Chefs
Aims to encourage young people into the industry, promote products, share ideas and techniques, and raise public awareness and appreciation. Membership is open to pastry chefs, pastry commis and companies supplying products and services for pastry chefs.
www.associationofpastrychefs.co.ukBest Practice Forum
The aim of the Best Practice Forum is to encourage businesses in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry to introduce new ideas and innovations by adopting or adapting best practice – so raising their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness.
www.bestpracticeforum.org -
British Cheese Board
Marketing board for British cheese, which aims to educate and inform the public about the benefits of British cheese.
www.cheeseboard.co.ukBritish Hospitality Association
National trade association for hotels, restaurants and caterers, the BHA’s primary role is to lobby government across the UK and in Europe, representing the views of the industry.
www.bha.org.ukBusiness In Sport and Leisure
Umbrella organisation representing the interests of over 100 private sector companies in the sport, leisure and hospitality industry.
www.bisl.org/ -
Confederation of Tourism Hotel Catering Management
The confederation was established in 1982 to provide recognised standards of management and vocational training appropriate to the needs of the hotel and travel industries.
www.cthcm.comCraft Guild of Chefs
Association representing the interests of chefs, aiming to raise professional standards, increase awareness and further skills, careers, education and training. Organisers of Knorr National Chef of the Year and other key culinary competitions and awards.
www.craft-guild.net -
Food Development Association
The UK’s leading representative body for all those involved in food development. FDA members work across all sectors of the industry – from foodservice to retail – and range from development chefs and new product development managers to food technologists and nutritionists.
www.fooddev.co.ukFood From Britain
The market development consultancy for British food and drink, funded by government and industry. Its aims are to maximise exports of UK food and drink, and to increase production and consumption of quality regional food and drink.
www.foodfrombritain.co.uk -
Food Standards Agency
The FSA is an independent government department set up in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.
www.food.gov.uk/Health & Safety Executive – catering website
The HSE catering website includes free guides to subjects such as manual handling, and slips, trips and falls.
www.hse.gov.uk/catering/index.htmHealthcare Caterers International
Global alliance of membership associations representing caterers, hospitality professionals, and foodservice managers in healthcare industries to benefit the members of each participating association.
www.hciglobal.org/ -
Hospitality Awarding Body
The Hospitality Awarding Body (HAB) is the UK's specialist awarding body for hospitality qualifications and also awards a number of one-day generic and service-sector qualifications.
www.hab.org.uk/Hospitable Climates
Hospitable Climates is a free energy-saving advisory programme, managed on behalf of the Carbon Trust by the Hotel & Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) and dedicated to the hospitality sector.
www.hospitableclimates.co.uk/ -
Hospital Caterers Association
Founded in 1948, the HCA is a national organisation with branches in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Its aims are the promotion and improvement of the standards of catering in hospitals and healthcare establishments; education and training; and improving the professional interests and status of health care caterers.
www.hospitalcaterers.org/Hospitality Assured
Quality standard for service and business excellence in the hospitality industry.
www.hospitalityassured.com/ -
Hotel Marketing Association
The official branch of the Chartered Institute of Marketing specifically for the hotel industry. The HMA is supported by many of the hotel companies in the UK and its membership comprises sales, marketing and operations personnel from small and large hotels and companies alike.
www.hotelmarketingassociation.com/Institute of Hospitality (formerly the HCIMA)
Professional body aiming to promote high standards of management and education within the hospitality industry. Provides a variety of information and education services, including a series of small business seminars.
www.instituteofhospitality.org -
International Travel Catering Association
The ITCA grew out of International Flight Catering Association, which was formed in the UK in 1980 as a forum and representative body for all companies involved in the inflight service industry. In 2005 this was opened up to include both the rail and shipping industries as well as inflight. Membership includes caterers, suppliers of products and equipment, and airline/sea/rail operators.
www.itcanet.com/Meat and Livestock Commission (MLC)
Promotional body for British beef, pork and lamb. Its foodservice website includes downloadable guides, recipes, and training links.
www.mlc.org.uk/ -
National Association of Care Catering (NACC)
Body representing nearly 500 professionals providing catering to the care industry, including meals on wheels, care homes and residential homes.
www.thenacc.co.uk/Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS)
Established in 2004, the NCASS represents mobile caterers, sandwich bars, buffet and corporate hospitality caterers, burger bars, delivery rounds, takeaways, pizza bars, fish and chips and others in the fast food industry, together with suppliers to the trade.
www.ncass.org.uk/ -
People 1st
The Sector Skills Council for the Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism industries, its aim is to make sure that the skills employers need are the skills they get.
www.people1st.co.ukProfessional Association For Catering Education
Regional and national network whose aim is to encourage catering educational institutions to work together to manage the challenges of continual change within hospitality and catering education.
www.keepinpace.co.uk/index.aspRegional Food and Drink
Site from Food From Britain featuring a directory of more than 3,000 regional food and drink producers in the UK.
www.foodfrombritain.com